Hughes' claim SpaceX's planned constellation raises a big threat of harmful interference to Ka-band geostationary orbit (GSO) systems (see 2201190007) is flawed and doesn't support Hughes' predetermined claim, SpaceX told the FCC International Bureau last week. It again urged the agency to deny Hughes' request that a SpaceX petition and Kuiper application be consolidated (see 2111230008). It said the ITU confirmed that SpaceX's plans would comply with application equivalent power flux density (EPFD) limits, but Hughes' analyses modified SpaceX's data and also dumped the ITU methodology for its own. Hughes, recapping a meeting with an aide to Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, said one analysis used ITU-approved software and SpaceX input data files that were modified to reflect operations of the entire SpaceX system. It said the analyses' findings undercut SpaceX and Kuiper arguments that an ITU finding of EPFD compliance without regard to the effects of multiple ITU filings is enough to protect primary GSO operations.

SpaceX said most parties petitioning against and proposing conditions on its planned second-generation constellation (see 2202090002) are hoping for "onerous bespoke regulatory burdens they hope will apply only to SpaceX, but that they would struggle or fail to meet themselves." The company told the FCC International Bureau last week its second-gen constellation "will meet or exceed every orbital debris mitigation requirement in the Commission’s rules -- including rules that have not yet gone into effect." It said it continues to work with NASA on improving its orbital debris mitigation capabilities and "is confident that its ongoing partnership with NASA will continue to yield additional enhancements that will make space operations even safer in the future." It said if the risk analysis and spectrum sharing conditions proposed for its constellation have merit, they should apply to all non-geostationary orbit systems and not just SpaceX. It's "facially absurd" to claim the first-gen constellation, with more than 2,000 satellites launched so far, is violating FCC rules on applications for second constellations when previously approved ones are "unbuilt," SpaceX said.

Globalstar plans to buy 17 satellites to replenish and extend the life of its existing constellation, it said Thursday, announcing a $327 million procurement agreement with MacDonald Dettwiler, now known as MDA. It said an unnamed potential customer agreed to cover 95% of the spending for the new satellites. Globalstar said it has an option to get up to nine additional satellites under the contract, at $11.4 million each. It said the satellites are to be delivered by 2025, with launch by the end of that year.

SpaceX's guiding principles for space sustainability and safety are designing and building safe, reliable satellites "design[ed] for demise"; using extremely low orbit insertion; operating below 600 km; sharing data transparently; and employing an autonomous collision avoidance system on each satellite, it blogged Tuesday. It said its satellite network reliability exceeds 99%, and no satellites launched in the past 15 missions failed after orbit raising.

Orbital debris and space sustainability are increasingly a discussion topic in international diplomacy, said Elle Agnew, Canadian Space Agency manager-international and regulatory affairs, Wednesday. During a George Washington University Space Policy Institute symposium, Agnew said space security was long a topic in G-7 meetings, but last year for the first time "we really dove into the science part," such as debris. She said the G-20 started a space economy forum as a venue for similar talks. Nicolas Maubert, French Embassy space counselor, said the U.N.'s Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space is an effective but slow international forum for tackling space issues. He said there should be national commitments to implementing COPUOS' 21 guidelines for space sustainability, as well as discussions about harmonizing the regulatory regimes of nations with launch and manufacturing capacity. Asked whether the mushrooming mega constellations raise Outer Space Treaty issues, State Department Office of the Legal Advisor lawyer Emily Pierce said those are issues that need consideration.

Eutelsat is pushing FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel to support whatever work the Wireless Bureau needs to complete to issue the format for C-band Phase II accelerated relocation certification. In a docket 18-122 ex parte post Wednesday on a meeting between Rosenworcel and CEO Eva Berneke, Eutelsat cited its "extensive outreach efforts" to C-band earth station operators. It said it's committed to meaningful orbital debris mitigation steps, but those have to be coordinated internationally.

The FCC signed off on transfer of Intelsat's licenses to the reorganized New Intelsat, per an International and Wireless Bureaus and Office of Engineering and Technology order in Thursday's Daily Digest (docket 21-375). Intelsat's prompt emergence from Chapter 11 "is critical to the continued operation of authorized stations," the agency said. Rejecting an International Telecommunications Satellite Organization-proposed condition (see 2110260028), it said ITSO didn't raise issues specific to the restructuring plan or the associated ownership changes.

Hughes has been pilot testing its Community LTE service, which uses satellite connectivity to create a mobile hot spot across several kilometers, in five villages in Brazil, it said this week. Each site uses an LTE small cell and open source network core paired with its high-throughput satellite capacity, it said.

A satellite-based internet network should be called an "outernet," the SmallSat Alliance said Tuesday. It had solicited nominations for what to term the space network (see 2202080006).

In-orbit service applications should generate a cumulative $14.3 billion in revenue through 2031, with satellite life extension being the main driver, Northern Sky Research said Tuesday. It predicted a slow start to the market due to "current low technology readiness" and most missions scheduled for mid- to long-term launch dates.